Spike pulling machine



Oct. 12, 1954 s. R. Hu'RsH SPIKE PULLING MACHINE 5 SheetsShcet l Filed Jan. 16, 1951 INVENTOR: (ganz/@Z A j'zz ce@ ATTORNEYS.

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' ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 12, 1954 s. R. HunsH SPIKE PULLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-sheet :s

Filed Jan. 16, 1951 INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 12, 195.4 s. R. HuRsH SPIKE PULLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 BYl uml mw 1| Z22 J23 124' Z 72.5 .74]

INVENToR.- J'w/weZRf/l/PS/z,

A TTORNE YS.

oct. 12, 1954 SR. HURSH 2,691,505

SPIKE PULLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 yi i INVENTOR:

By @lm A TTORNE YS.

Registered Oct. 1,2, 1.954

assists? UNITED STATES FPA'TEINT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a spike pulling machine, and more particularly concerns a device for withdrawing spikes from objects such as ties of railroad track and the like.

While mechanical spike pulling devices have been proposed from time to time for effecting the removal of spikes from railroad ties, these have not been successful to any great extent since they have been heavy and bulky as well as difficult to adapt for removal of spikes disposed at various distances from the rails with which they are associated. Moreover several manual operations have been necessary in connection with the use of such machines, including the steps of engaging the gripping element of the tool or machine with the spike, positioning and bracing the tool or machine with respect to the spike, and removing the spike from the gripping element of the tool or machine after it is withdrawn.

For the foregoing reasons it has been conventional in railroad practice to employ a lever or clawbar together with appropriate wedge means to apply lifting force to the base of the spike head for withdrawing the spike from the track tie. Such operations necessarily require extensive manual labor. Moreover by reason of eX- tended exposure to the elements, spikes frequently become corroded in the area of the shaft immediately below the spike head as Well as the head itself; accordingly the exertion of upwardly directed force upon the spike head is undesirable in that the spike has a tendency to break under tension at the corroded area. As a result the spike head is pulled from the spike shaft which remains in place in the tie. Subsequent removal of the shaft from the track tie is difcult and in some cases the shaft must be driven through the tie with a drift punch, a costly and undesirable feature. Removal of railroad spikes by means of clawbars and wedges as well as conventional -spike pulling machines is also dangerous in that spike heads tend to be liberated suddenly by breaking because of corrosion and to y into the air, endangering personnel, this being a source oi many personal injuries.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a compact, light weight and readily portable machine for withdrawing spikes from objects into which they have been driven. It is another obbject of this invention to provide a fluid operated spike pulling machine which may readily be braced against a track rail to eiect withdrawal of the spikes from the ties of the track bed. Still another object is to provide a spike pulling machine having automatic means for engaging and releasing the spike to be pulled. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine for withdrawing corroded or otherwise weakened spikes from the objects in which they are embedded. It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device for withdrawing large numbers of spikes, one at a time', which is automatically rendered inoperative after each spike is withdrawn, and may immediately be repositioned above the next successive spike to effect its withdrawal. Other objects of the invention, including the simplicity and economy of the same and the ease and safety with which it may be applied to effect withdrawal of spikes and nails from various objects, will become further apparent hereinafter.

In summary, the foregoing and other objects are accomplished by the present invention wheren in the spike puller comprises a base, a rigid frame slidably mounted on said base, a grapple suspended from said frame in position to engage and disengage the spike to be pulled, a jack element on said base having capacity to slide said rigid frame up and down relative to said base, operating means for operating said jack element, control means for activating and inactivating said operating means, and limit means connected to said jack element and operative in response to the movement of said frame for operating said control means and thereby inactivating said jack operating element when -the frame and base reach predetermined positions relative to one another.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of one embodiment of a spike pulling machine in accordance with this invention. In this ligure the machine is represented in position for withdrawing a rail holding spike from a point adjacent a track rail, the rail being shown in section;

Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the spike pulling machine which appears in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows illlll which appear in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 represents a front elevation of the spike pulling machine of Fig. 2, the parts of the apparatus being indicated in the positions they occupy after the spike is withdrawn from the track tie;

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary front elevation of the spike pulling machine, with parts removed and others broken away and shown in secacentos tion in order to disclose important details of the spike engaging means of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 represents a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the positions of the respective parts as the spike engaging elements are lowered against the spike head;

Fig. 7 represents a View similar to Figs. 5 and 6, showing the positions occupied by the spike engaging elements as the spike is withdrawn from the track tie;

Fig. 8 rep-resents a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows VIH-VIH which appear in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 represents a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig` l, the machine being in position for withdrawal of a tie plate holding spike. In this ligure certain portions of the apparatus are shown in section, taken as indicated by the lines and arrows IX-IX which appear in Fig. 2.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of i the invention selected for illustration in the drawings represents one practical embodiment of the invention, and that this may be modied in many particulars without departing from the scope of the invention.

ri'he embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings includes the legs 25.9 constituting a base or support for the apparatus, and the rail hooi; 2l, whereby the spike pulling mechanism may be disposed substantially vertically adjacent the side of a rail 22, above the track tie 23. Slidably mounted on the base or support is a rigid lifting yoke or frame including uprights 2d, which is movable up and down relative to the track tie 23. The lifting yoke is actuated by a fluid operated jack comprehensively designated by the number 25, and carries a spike clamping element including a pair of matched spike hooks 2S which engage the spikes 21 to remove them from 4the ties.

Referring to Figs. 1 4 and 9 of the drawings, the base or support for the apparatus carries the slots i which are disposed vertically on the rail hook 2l, 'which is adjustable vertically relative to legs 2l?, and may be secured in adjusted position fby bolts 3l and washers 32 to accommodate rails 22 of different heights.

The legs 2Q are each inwardly curved and have feet 33 the bottom edges of which are angled to bear against the beveled upper surface of rail base 34. Above the legs 2B, and formed integrally therewith, are plates 35 constituting the principal support members for the jack assembly yof the structure. Angle irons 36 are secured to the upper ends of plates 35 and a iioor plate 3? is disposed between the plates 35 at the top thereof, to form a iioor for the jack structure of the device. The horizontal ii'anges of angle irons 3S are spaced above iioor pla-te 3'! to accommodate the side edges of base plate Il@ which is slida-bly mounted on iioor plate 37 for movement toward and away from rail 22. Such adjustment is advantageous in that the rail-holding spikes Si? and the plate-holding spikes 21a (which, as shown in Fig. 9, secure the tie plates 38 in position on the ties) are thus readily removed. The base plate 69 may 'be secured in adjusted position by Screws 39.

Base plate l0 has a pair of opposed apertures M which are substantially square as viewed in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The rigid uprights are slidably disposed through said apertures 4l for reciprocaticn in a plane substantially perpendicular to the planes of floor lill and floor `plate 3l". Floor pla-te 31 has a pair of laterally disposed slots bounded lby the edges i2 (see Figs. 3 and 9) such slots accommodating the uprights 24, .permitting the base plate it to slide hormontally toward and away from the rail 22.

The rigid uprights 2d are connected together by the transverse handle piece 43 bolted thereto, and also by the curved cross plates `44 which are connected to the fluid operated jack 25, in a manner further to be described.

The iiuid operated jack 25 is mounted on the base plate 46 and has a main shaft l5 carrying a substantially cylindrical lifting head 4E. The lifting head 4S is fixed on the sha-ft (i5 and carries at its base a cylindrical shoulder 45a. The curved cross plates d are matched and disposed immediately around the cylinder of lifting head fit, Yand have their bottom edges immediately above the shoulder lita. The lifting head is secured in position by the knurled .collar il which contacts the top edges of cross plates t4 completing the connection of the jack shaft to 'the slidable frame.

Jack base 5t is mounted on base plate lil and serv-es as a support for the jack barrel 5! in which main shaft l5 is tightly tted. Jack base "5D is partially hollow, (see particularly Fig. 3 of `the drawings) and encloses the fluid reservoir 52. Opening from reservoir 52 is fluid passage b3 to which is connected an angled fluid passage Eli. The base 5i! is internally bevelled to form a seat for ball check. valve 55 which is normally urged against such seat by spring 55 which bridges the central passage 5l and bears against a second ball check valve El). Spring 5t is normally under compression. The base 50 is internally bevelled to provide a seat for ball check valve til, which is normally urged against such seat by the spring 6i. Passage 52 communicates with central passage 5l and also with the upwardly angled bore in which the plunger 3 reciprocates. The spring i5! bridges across chamber 5d which communicates with conduit 65 leading in turn to the vertically disposed bore in which the shaft travels.

.also disposed in the jack base 50 is the separate inclined passage or `by-pass line Sii which leads directly from passage 53 to a chamber '61. Passage E6 does not connect with .passage 62 or with the bore in which plunger 63 reciprocates. Chamber lil communicates through a port to the chamber IM. However the port lil is bev-elled to provide a seat coacting with the bevelled end of valve stem 'll to make and break fluid cornmunication between the chambers El and 6d.

Valve stein 'El is disposed through a threaded bushing i2 which is worm threaded internally to mesh with `the worm 73 formed integrally with shaft ll. Plug G9, threaded into the jack base 5d, seals the opening provided for draining and filling the internal passages and also provid-es a seat against which the spring El may bear. Upon removal oi drain plug E9 the ball check valves 55, E@ become inoperative, facilitating draining.

It is pertinent to point out at this point that pressure may be applied to raise the shaft l5 by closing valve El in port 'it and reciprocating the plunger 63. During the course of movement oi the plunger 63 upwardly, fluid is withdrawn from chamber 52 through passages 53, S and ball check valve 55. During the down stroke of the plunger fluid is forced through ball check valve Gil, chamber 6l and passage 55 to raise main shaft 45. The jack may be lowered by opening valve H whereby huid under pressure is returned through passage 65, chamber 64, port ill, passages '56 and 53 to reservoir 52, by-passing the ball check Valves.

The plunger 63' is slidably disposed with fluidtight fit through the bushing 14 threaded yto the base 50 of the jack. Also mounted on the base 50 is a standard 15 having a pair of spaced arms 16. Pivotally mounted on the pivot 11, and having its central portion disposed in the space between the arms 16, is the crank lever 89 consisting essentially of the handle arm SI and the link-engaging arm 82. Link-engaging arm 82 is pivotally connected by means of pins 83 to each of the pair of swinging links 84 which are in turn pivotally attached to the free upper end of plunger 63 by means of pin 85. Limit pins 86 are mounted on one of the spaced arms 16 in the path of travel of a fixed stud 81 formed integrally with handle arm 8|, thereby limiting the extent of arcuate movement of the crank lever 80 about the pivot 11. It will be observed that the arms 8| and 82 and the plunger 63are so arranged relative to one another that the plunger 63 is positioned at the lower end of its path of reciprocation when the handle 8| and arm 82 are midway in the arcs in which they travel. Accordingly for each stroke of the handle 8| in a single direction between the limit pins 86 the plunger travels two strokes the full length of its reciprocating path. Thus the plunger 63 completes a full cycle comprising a pressure stroke and return for each half cycle of the handle 8|.

The fluid operated spike puller selected for illustration in the drawings also embodies means for activating and inactivating the jack in response to the movement of the sliding frameuprights 24. It will be observed (Fig. 3) that a sleeve 90 is secured by means of set screw 9| to valve shaft 1|. Lever arm 92, formed integrally with sleeve 90, has a peg 93 rigidly affixed near its free end. Peg 93 is disposecd and travels within the longitudinal slot 94 in control lever 05 which is pivoted to the jack base 50 by horizontal pivot shaft 96. A spring 91 is attached to peg 93 and pivot shaft 96 and maintained under tension, tending to urge the peg 93 and shaft 96 toward one another. Control lever 95 has an integrally formed extension arm carrying a knob |0| which may ge gripped by hand for manual operation of the lever. Extension arm |00 is disposed in the path of movement of the upper and lower actuator pins |02, |03 respectively mounted on slotted straps |04, (Figs. l, 2) and adjustably secured in position to an upright 24 by bolts |06, |01. The actuator pins serve to operate the control lever 95 in response to the movement of the upright 24, thereby closing and opening the valve 1I associated with the passage or by-pass 66 to activate and inactivate thefluid operated jack in response to the movement of the upright 24. The exposed parts of the activating and inactivating means just described are preferably mounted within a housing as shown in section in Fig. l, for protection against the elements. For the sake of clarity, such housing is not indicated in Figs. 2, 4, and 9.

The spike clamping element of the apparatus includes the hooks housing see Figs. 5-8, within which the spike hooks 26 are slidably disposed. Hooks housing has a pair of spaced vertical end Walls ||2 each formed integrally with one of the uprights 24, cross brace i3 which constitutes the top wall of the hooks housing, back plate ||4 which is integral with end walls I l2, and front plate I5 which is removably bolted to the end and top walls of the hooks housing.

Each of the spike-engaging hooks 26 has a vcylindrical opening IIB (see Fig. 5) accommodating a coil spring I1, which bears against top wall 6 ||3 and against the hook 26 at the base of the opening I|6. Each coil spring ||1 is maintained under compression and urges the hook body away from top wall ||3.

Each spike engaging hook 26 has a fiat upper surface |20 and also has a round indentation |2| disposed near the top of the inner hook side surface, for accommodation of cylindrical insert |22 which isvfree of connection to any wall of the hooks housing I The inner side surface of each hook also comprises a vertical portion |23, the downwardly outwardly sloping surface |24, vertical surface I25, downwardly inwardly sloping surface |26, vertical surface |21, and concave hook surface |30. The outer side surface of each hook consists of the uppermost surface |3| which is inclined downwardly and outwardly, a corner |32, a downwardly inwardly sloping surface |33 of moderate slope, corner |34, downwardly inwardly sloping surface |35 having greater slope than surface |33, and the hook outside surface |36.

Rigidly mounted on back wall 4 of hooks housing I I are a pair of upper and lower central vertically aligned posts |40, |4|.' At the lower corners of the housing, and also rigidly mounted on back wall |I4, are the rigid posts |42. The rigid posts coact with the specically defined surfaces to swing the claws |43 of the spike hooks 26 toward and away from one another in response to the movement of the uprights 24, accordingly engaging and releasing each spike in definite sequence and in predetermined relationship with the operation of the other elements of the machine. The rigid posts assume the role of cams while the inner and outer side surfaces of the hooks are cam followers actuated by the cams in a pecic manner further to be described hereinaf er.

The claws |43 include the concave surface |30 providing la hollow portion or indentation larger than the space occupied by the corresponding portion of the head of the spike to be pulled. Thus the spike head is .accommodated between the claws substantially free of contact with the claws. Moreover the claws |43 of the spike hooks 26 have sharp points |44 which are spaced inwardly of the outer extremity of concave surface |30, so that the points |44 will engage and bite the shaft of the spike at a point below the spike head while the spike head substantially free of contact with the claws of the spike engaging hooks. Points |44 are spaced slightly outwardly of the vertical surfaces I 21, to an extent less than half the transverse dimension of the spike shaft, so the points |44 will bite the spike shaft to effect direct engagement therewith, even though the spike shaft may have been corroded in the manner indicated by the shaded lines which appear in Fig. 7. This is highly advantageous in that the danger of pulling the spike head from the spike shaft during the pulling operation is minimized by providing direct bite on the spike shaft, free of contact with the head.

In operation, the spike pulling machine is positioned adjacent the rail 22, the rail hook 2| is adjusted vertically, and base plate 48 is initially adjusted toward or away from the rail 22 and secured in adjustment to position the spike hooks 26 directly above a selected spike 21. The operator grasps the handle piece 43, holding the uprights 24 in their upper positions, as in Fig. 4, and exerts downwardly directed force, sliding the uprights 24 downwardly. Thus the operator presses the bottom surfaces .of claws |43 against the top surface of the spike 22|. The spike hooks 2 6 are slid bodily upwardly .against :the .resist- .ance of springs I|' as indicated in Fig. 6. The lower pin |4I, bearing against the downwardly inwardly inclined faces |26, swings .the claws |43 outwardly away from one another, as indicated by the vsolid line .positions .of the hooks 126 inFig. :6, and the vpoints 144 of the claws V|43 travel around the upper periphery of the spike head to effect contact near Athe .outer .edge on the lower surface of the spike head. The 7operator then stops exerting the downwardly directed force on the handle piece .4 3 and, under the influence of coil springs H1, vthe hooks '-26 .are -Slid bodily downwardly to reach the position show-n in dot-dash lines in Fig. `6 of ythe drawings. In such .position the points |44 of the claws |43 engage directly :upon the shaft of the spike and the ,hooks and claws are free of Contact with the ,spike head.

As the uprights v2li move .downwardly the actuator pin |62 moves against the extension arm i, swinging extension arm im) downwardly land control lever 95 upwardly, toward the hor-i- .zontaL about pivot $56. tension .to spring 97|. As the .control lever 9,5 passes the horizontal, spring :9.1 4.acts `thrgnlgl'i peg 93 and -slot Se to snap the control lever 11pwardly to its upper limit position, revolving worm 13 and advancing valveshaft li to close .the port 10.

At this point in the sequence of steps the control lever 95 is in the position represented in Fig. 2 of the drawings, by-pass .line :6 6 Ithereby being `closed .by valve 1|. The operator rociprocates the handle :8|, loperating the plunger 63 to slide the -uprights 2&1 and :hooks housing upwardly. The upper pin 'bears yagainst .the downwardly outwardly inclined faces |24, :moving the upper ends ofthe hooks :2,6 outwardly, as shown in Fig. '7. Similarly in response to the upward movement of the hooks Yhousing the rigid posts |42 bear against the downwardly inclined cam follower surfaces |35 urging the claws |43 toward one another, causing the claws |43 to bite into the :spike shaft below the spike head. Upon continued reciprocation of handle 8| the upwardly directed force on hooks housing iii is increased, with increased bite pressure on the spike shaft. Further reciprocation of handle 8| provides sucient force to withdraw the spike 21 from the tie 23 and it `is -liftedclear of the tie. As kthe spike 2| .is lifted yfrom the tie the eiective lifting force decreases sharply, releasingthe biteof the hooks on the spike shaft. The spike may then be removed manually from the claws |53.

As the uprights 2li .travel upwardly the actuator pin |53 approaches the extension arm ill@ and eventually moves the extension arm |60 upwardly, swinging `control ylever 95 about pivot 96, against the resistance -of spring .91, toward the horizontal. As control lever 95 swings below 'the horizontal, -the spring 91, acting through peg 93 `and slot M, 4causes it to snap suddenly to its lower limit position, as .shown in Fig. 4, wherein the free end of control lever -91 Lbears against limit ,piece ,98. This .revolves the worm I3 withdrawing valve shaft 'l .andestablishing communication between chamber :e4 and by-pass conduit 55. Pressure is thereby released to reservoir `52 and the spike pullingmachine is then `readily positioned -directlyabove another spike for repeating 'the spike-pulling operation.

VThe structure wherein the rail hook 21| rests This applies additional '1i-DOH the @Op .of the rail and engages the ,side of the rail opposite vthe legs 2li, and wherein the Afeet 33 engage upon the base 3d `of the rail 22, is particularly advantageous. By reason-of such construction the machine may be slid along the rail, from spike to spike, thereby rapidly withdrawing .successive spikes from successive track .tic-s. Moreover the spike engaging hooks are also adjustable toward and away from the rail andean withdraw any spike so located that the machine can be positioned to exert an upward pull thereon While the `jack element of the machine is preferably a hydraulic device .employing a liquid fluid such -as oil or the like as a pressure transmitting medium, ,other uids are .contemplated as eifective and ,equivalent pressure transmitting media. it w-ivdalso be .appreciated that, although .the invention has been described in detail with reference to one embodi- -rnent thereof, it may also be .practiced by substituting -a -wide :variety of modifications .or

equivalents for the elements shown and described herein. All such modifications, including reversals of parts and Ythe .use of .certain fea- I,tures independently of the use .of other features,

are within the spirit and scope .of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: -l. In a spike .pulling-machine having a support, a frame mounted on said support for .movement ,up anddown yrelative :to said support, and spikeengaging Anfieans lon said frame, Athe `combination .comprising a fluid pressure operated jack element attached to said `frame with capacity to actuate .the upward `movement of the frame and spikeengaging Ameans to -pull the spike, jack-operating means for `operating the jack .element to elevate said frame and thereby Apull .the spike, ,pressure relieving means, .automatic means operative in response .to the movement of the ,frame ,for operating said .pressure relieving ,means after the spike is fpulled, thereby vpermitting the .frame ,and

f-grapple v:to descend to position .for .engaging another lspike, .and restoring vmeans operative .to close the pressure relieving Lmeans 4in response to ythe complete downward return of .the frame and ,grapple to the spike-engaging position.

2. In a spike pulling machine .having a support, a framemountedon saidsupport for l moye- -ment 4up vand down relative vto said support, and :spikeengaging means on said frame, `the .com- -bination confiprising a .fluid pressure operated jack element lattached .to said frame with .ca-

pacity yto actuate the upward -movement of the frame and .spike-engaging means to pull Ythe spike, jack-operating means for .operating the .jackelernent to T elevate said frame andtheleby pull '.the spike, .pressure relieving means in the .forrnof a Naive, a spring-loaded lever attached .to saidvalye. -with capacity .to open end close it, and automatic means in the form ofan actuator ipin positioned on said .frame in ,line with said lever .for contactingsaid leverand .thereby .opening said pressure .relieving valve after the spike ispulled, thereby permitting theframe and grapple rtodescend to `position for engaging another spike.

In a-fspike puller-having a-base, a-rigid frame slidably mounted on said; base, and-a grapplesusprisinga jackelenient on said base having-capacity :to slide .said lrigid frame .up .and A'down relative :to .said rbase, :fluid pressure .means for -9 operating said jack element to raise said frame, valve means for releasing said uid pressure and thereby rendering the jack element inoperative and permitting said frame to descend, a lever connected to said valve means with capacity to open and close the valve, said lever being mounted with capacity to swing about a pivot, spring means connected to said lever to swing said lever and actuator means mounted on the rigid frame for movement therewith, said lever being disposed in the path of movement of said actuator means as the spike is withdrawn, and said lever being displaced by said actuator means when the spike is withdrawn, thereby operating said valve means, releasing the uid pressure and automatically permitting said frame to descend, said spring means and lever being arranged to maintain the valve in open position throughout the descent of the frame.

4. In apparatus for withdrawing individual spikes in succession from a series of track ties having a base; a rigid frame slidably mounted on said base; and spike clamping elements mounted on said rigid frame, said clamping elements being positioned on said frame for engagement of the spikes to be withdrawn; the combination comprising a hydraulic jack supported by said base and attached to the rigid frame with capacity to lift said frame; said jack including a liquid reservoir, a liquid pressure chamber, pump means for delivering liquid from said reservoir to said pressure chamber, a passage bypassing said pump means and interconnecting said pressure chamber and said fluid reservoir, and valve means in said passage; a lever attached to said valve means with capacity to open and close the valve; said lever being mounted with capacity to swing about a pivot, spring means connected to said lever, means for operating said hydraulic jack to lift said rigid frame; and mechanical limit means mounted on said rigid frame for movement therewith, said lever being disposed in the path of movement of said limit means and displaced thereby to operate said valve means in response to the movement of said rigid frame, said limit means being spaced relative to said clamping elements to actuate said valve means upon withdrawal of the spike, thereby bleeding iiuid from the pressure chamber to the reservoir and immediately and automatically permitting the clamping elements to descend to the proper position for engagement of the next successive spike of the series.

5. A portable spike puller for withdrawing spikes from the ties of railroad tracks, comprising a pedestal having a plurality of legs extending downwardly adjacent to one side only of a rail of said track, each of said legs having a foot member adapted to stand on top of the rail base, said foot member being free of contact with the tie, hook means mounted on said pedestal and bridging over the top of said rail, said hook means having a downwardly extending portion constructed to engage the side of said rail opposite said legs when said feet are on said rail base, spike engaging means mounted on said pedestal on the side of the rail opposite said hook for sliding movement up and down relative to said pedestal, said pedestal feet being disposed inwardly of said spike engaging means relative to said rail, lifting means for sliding said spike engaging means upwardly relative to said pedestal, and means for operating said lifting means, said pedestal and hook means being slidable longitudinally along the base of said rail and the rail head respectively for removing spikes from successive ties of the track.

6. In a spike pulling machine for withdrawing spikes from the ties of railroad tracks having a jack and means for operating said jack, the combination comprising a pair of spaced legs attached to support the jack and to stand adjacent to one side only of a rail of said track, said jack being devoid of legs on the other side of said rail, the lower portions of said legs being curved toward said track, said legs having inclined flat feet adapted to bear against the base of said rail, said feet being free of contact withsaid ties, hook means adjustably attached to said jack for movement upwardly and downwardly relative thereto, said hook means bridging over the top of the rail, said hook means having a downwardly extending portion constructed to engage the side of said rail head opposite said legs when said flat feet are against said rail base and when said legs are in an upright position, said jack including a base plate comprising a support for said jack slidably mounted on top of said legs with capacity for sliding movement toward and away from the rail, and said jack also including spike-engaging means movable up and down in response to the operation of said jack operating means, said feet being disposed laterally intermediate said spikeengaging means and said hook means whereby said feet are closer than said spike-engaging means to the rail axis.

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